By William Shakespeare
Venus and Adonis
From April to June 2012, Shakespeare’s Globe brought theatre companies from around the world to perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in 37 languages. The Globe to Globe season was part of the World Shakespeare Festival for the London 2012 Festival.
Venus and Adonis is no longer available but you can still see some of the Globe to Globe plays featured on The Space.
VENUS AND ADONIS (U-VENAS NO ADONISI)
Performed by the Isango ensemble from Cape Town, South Africa, in IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, SeSotho, Setswana, Afrikaans & South African English as part of the Globe Theatre’s season of Shakespeare plays interpreted by companies from around the world.
THE COMPANY
Isango Ensemble is an internationally renowned South African theatre company that draws its artists from the townships around South Africa.
Its productions re-imagine classics from the Western theatre canon, finding a new context for the stories within a South African or township setting.
Isango is committed to creating theatre that is accessible to all South Africans and have made award-winning films including U-Carmen, made on location in Khayelitsha township and featuring local people.
THE PLAY
Based on the poem by William Shakespeare, the story is set in Greek mythological times. Venus is pricked her son Cupid’s arrow and is filled with desire for beautiful hunter Adonis. He resists all her attempts to seduce him. The next morning, she hears the hunt and discovers Adonis mortally wounded. Venus foresees that all love will be tainted with jealousy and make fools of people.
PRINCIPAL CAST AND CREDITS
Venus (in order of appearance):
Pauline Malefane
Busisiwe Ngejane
Noluthando Boqwana
Zoleka Mpotsha
Zanele Mbatha
Bongiwe Mapassa
Adonis: Mhlekazi Whahwa Mosiea
Cupid: Zamile Gantana
Director/adaptor: Mark Dornford May
Musical composition: Mandisi Dyantyis with the company